Describe one process in which bacteria play role in the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen

Bacteria’s Role in the Nitrogen Biogeochemical Cycling

Bacteria are essential to the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. The transformation of N2 gas (N2) to a useful form known as ammonium (4+) is performed by bacteria. This can then be used for making proteins and nucleic acid. Two types of bacteria are responsible for this process known as Nitrition. To convert N2 to NH4+ from autotrophic bacteria, they use sunlight and chemical sources of energy. Heterotrophic bacteria rely on organic matter for food (Okeke 2010, 2020). Because it increases the amount of nitrogen available to plants and other organisms, nitrification is an important part of the global cycle of nitrogen. Denitrification is the second major role that bacteria play in the nitrogen cycle. Anaerobic bacteria performs this function, using nitrate (NO3+) as an electron acceptor. (Kumar, et al. 2018). It is the opposite of nitrification, which is when nitrate is converted to nitrogen gas. This is important because it allows for the removal of nitrate from the atmosphere, which can otherwise buildup and become harmful for other organisms.